Improved amalgamator



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Letters Patent No. 90,409, dated May 25, 1869.

IMPROVE!) AMALG-AMATOR.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES THOMSON, of Gibsonville, county of Sierra, State 'of California, have invented an Improved Amalgamator; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings are suicient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains, yto make and use my said invention or improvement Without further-invention or experiment. f

The object of my invention is to provide an improved amalgamator, for separating and saving the precious metals, after the rock has been crushed in the battery, or by other means; and

It consists in first passing the pulp ti'om the battery through a long vertical tube, which extends down into a shallow cylinder, with a perforated cover.

Thiscylinder is filled with mercury, so that it stands 'at some depth on the cover, and all the vpulp `is thus forced, by the pressure in the tube, to pass through the mercury, and is intimately mingled and brought in contact with it, by means of the perforated cover.

After leaving this smaller cylinder, the pulp spreads over an amalgamated copper plate around it and withiu an outer large cylinder, and rises till it is discharged through an aijustablc gate.

A bent perforated pipe discharges cold water into the pulp, and, by its action, tends to unite the particles of mercury, and also to carry the pulp to the centre.

The whole mass within the cylinder is heated, by means of steam within a chamber placed beneath.

This chamber is so constructed that fuel may be used to heat it, in place of steam, if desired.

To more fully explain my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, and the letters marked thereon, of which- Figure 1, sheet l, is a perspective View of my amalgamator. n

Figure 2, sheet 2, is a view of the outer cylinder; and gate.

Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, sheet 2, are detailed views of parts of the machine.

Similar letters of reference, in each of the figures, indicate like parts.

A is a supporting-frame of timber, having a pipe, B, passing vertically through it, and extending down into a shallow cylinder, D.

This cylinder hasl a cover, E, which is perforated with small holes, and is filled with mercury, so as to stand at a depth over the cover, which may be varied according to the pressure.

rlhe cover is composed of two parts, and may be easily removed at any time, by loosening` the wedges a a, and the clamp O, which holds the ring P.

To avoid clogging, by the passage of large pieces of rock, a conical perforated screen, M, is placed in the mouth of the pipe B, so that all the pulp must first pass through the screen.

The cylinder D is set loosely into a large wooden.-

bottom, J, which is placed within an outer cylinder, G

The bottom J has its upper surface covered with copper, l, and made concave, thus forming an amalgamating-surface, and, by its shape, assisting the ilow or movement of the sand towards the centre.

Below the cylinder G is the heater K, which is also made cylindrical, as being a more convenient shape. A

This heater is so constructed that steam, may be used, in which caseA theppipes c c servefor egress.

Il it is necessary or expedient to heat itby fuel, the' the pipe, for the discharge of' cold water into the pulp.

The operation of my amalgamator is as follows:

The pulp from the battery is discharged into the mouth of the pipe B, and passes through the screen M, and down into the cylinder D.

The height of the pipe B gives a pressure suicieut to force the pulp beneath the surface of the mercury, after which it rises, and is finely divided, by passing through the perforated cover E, thus bringing everyv part of the pulp in contact with mercury, and thoroughly amalgamatingrthe gold or silver which may be present.

As the heated pulp escapes from the cylinder D, it Hows outward within the cylinder G, and fills it to the aperture in the gate F, when it escapes over the apron H.

The jets of cold water, from the pipe G, falling into the pulp, tend to settle the sand and amalgam, which flows down the inclined copper surface I, towards the centre, the mercury being thus prevented from dividing into fine particles and flowing away.

The discharge is regulated byraising and lowering the gate F.

Small perforations are made in the lower part of 3.' The heater K, adapted for steam or fuel, in combination with the arnalgalnator, substantially as herein described.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

JAMES THOMSON.

Witnesses S. B. DAgyInsoN, G. G. OLoUGH. 

